Apparatus for spraying materials



Feb. 22, 1966 T. P. MORITCHIE 3,236,459

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 16, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 22, 1966 T. P. Mc c 3,236,459

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 16, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /22 2% ms Q; 5246 INVENTOR. THUMA5.P. M UHITBHJE.

United States Patent 3,236,459 APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING MATERIALS Thomas P. McRitchie, 222 Washington St., Port Clinton, Ohio Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,703 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-416) This invention relates to method of spraying materials and to a spray gun or spray apparatus particularly adaptable for spraying various materials including heavy or viscous materials as well as more liquidus coating materials.

Spray guns have been developed and used for spray application of various materials but heretofore a spray gun or apparatus for applying paints and liquidus materials was not suitable for applying heavy or viscous materials, the latter requiring a type of spray gun different from that usable for applying liquidus materials.

The present invention embraces a method of applying materials and particularly a method of spraying or applying comparatively heavy materials or aggregates in slurries through the use of air pressure and for spraying or applying liquidus or low viscosity materials.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spray gun or spray apparatus usable for applying either heavy viscous materials or comparatively thin liquidus or low viscosity materials from a gravity supply or under conditions wherein the supply of material may be pressurized.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of spray apparatus which may be attached to a material supply hopper or container in various relative positions to enable the use of the spray gun in any position while maintaining the supply hopper in a position to assure proper flow of the material to the gun.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spray gun which is readily adaptable for delivering or applying the material in a desired spray pattern and which is adaptable to provide various spray patterns.

Another object of the invention resides in a spray gun or spray applicator wherein fittings or adapters may be quickly and readily interchanged to facilitate the use of the spray gun with various materials and wherein the fittings may be quickly interchanged without the use of special tools.

Another object of the invention resides in a spray gun or spray apparatus adaptable for applying materials such as slurries of fine aggregates in the nature of fine sand, vermiculite, perlite, gypsum, lime and the like or materials of mortar-like consistency, plaster, cement stuccos or epoxy and polyester resins, and is adaptable for the application of more liquidus materials such as paints or materials contained in water soluble or solvent type vehicles containing normal pigmentation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a spray gun construction wherein the major components are fashioned of lightweight material such as aluminum usable with a material supply hopper formed of lightweight material such as aluminum or molded plastic.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the spray gun of the invention and a material supply hopper in one position of use;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the supply hopper in a different relation with the spray FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of components of the spray gun in disassembled relation;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the nozzle plate, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of a fitting forming a component of the spray gun for use with viscous materials;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the spray gun and the connection with the supply hopper, the gun including the components shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8:: is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of an arrangement shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view of a material supply receptacle or hopper for use with the spray gun;

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the spray gun assembled with the fitting illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the spray gun and fitting construction adapting the gun for application of liquidus materials;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the construction shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of a portion of the construction shown in FIGURE 12 with certain parts shown in cross-section.

FIGURE 15 is a front end view of the construction shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 16 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 16-16 of FIGURE 12, and

FIGURE 17 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 17-17 of FIGURE 12.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGURES 1 through 6, 8 and 9, the spray gun and fitting construction illustrated in these figures provide an arrangement particularly adapted for spraying viscous materials or slurries onto a surface. As shown in FIG- URES l and 2, the spray gun 10 is equipped with a component or fitting 12 equiped with a nozzle construction and a connect-ing portion 16 to which is removably secured a material containing receptacle or hopper 18, these components being hereinafter more fully described.

The hopper 18 is adapted for connection with the fitting 12 in various positions. FIGURE 1 illustrates the relation between the spray gun 10 and the hopper 18 where the material spray is directed upwardly onto a surface 20 with the hopper in an upright or vertical position. FIGURE 2 is similar to to FIGURE 1 illustrating another relationship between the fitting 12 and the hopper 18 where the material spray from the gun is directed angularly downwardly onto a surface with the hopper 18 maintained in a substantially vertical or upright position.

The spray gun construction is particularly shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 6 and 8. Referring particularly to these figures, the spray gun is inclusive of a generally cyI-in' drically shaped body 24 and a hand grip portion 26. The hand grip portion 26 is provided with a lengthwise tubular passage 28 which accommodates a tube or tubular member 30.

The upper end of the tubular member 30 is threaded, as shown at 32, and is threaded into an opening formed in the body 24. The opposite end of the tube 30 is threaded as at 34 to receive a locking fitting 36 having a threaded interior bore. When the fitting 36 is drawn up into the position shown in FIGURE 8, the hand grip 26 is rigidly secured to the gun body 24.

The fitting. 36 .is configured as at -38 to receive the end'of a hose or flexible tube 40, shown in FIGURES l and 2, connected witha supply of compressed air. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, an air control valve 42 may be intercalated in the air line to regulate and control flow of air under pressure through the tube 30 into the interior of the spray gun body 24.

The front end region of the gun body 24 has an enlarged cone-shaped portion 46. Fitted onto the end of portion 46 is a plunger guide means or member 48 which is secured to member 46 by three. screws 50, as particularly. shown inFIGURES 6 and 8. The end region of the portion 46 is fashioned with a circular recess accommodating a sealing ring 52"of resilient material of the O-ring type. The fitting or member 48-is provided with a threaded interior bore to accommodate a threaded bushing 54, the end region of the bore in the fitting 48 beingfrusto-conically shaped to accommodate a sealing ring or gasket 56 of rubber'or other suitable resilient sealing'material.

An interior region of the gun body 24- is provided with a bore. :60, shownin FIGURE 8. Slidably disposed in the bushing 54 and the bore 60' is a reciprocable tubular plunger 62 providing a lengthwise passage 64 to provide for, air flow throughthe plunger. The gun body '24 is provided with a threaded bore 66 forming a chamber 67. A bushing 68 threadedintothe bore 66 engages an..O-ring 70- to effect a sealing engagement of the O- ring with the exterior cylindrical surface of the plunger 62... The rear end of the gun body 24 is provided with a bushing 72 having a tenon portion 74 threaded into the bore 66. Theend of theg-un body is formed with a circularrecess accommodating a sealing ring 76 which is engaged by the member 72 forming a seal for the end ofthe gunbody.

It will be noted from FIGURE -8 that the portion of the plunger. 62 which is slidable in the brushing 54 is of slightly largerdiameter than the portion of the plungerwhich is slidable in the bore 60 of the gun body and the bushing 68-; The/region of the larger diameter portion :of :the: plunger 62 adjacent its juncture with the smal-lerdiameter portion is threaded as at 76 to accom' modate the upper end of a trigger 78, the trigger being provided with a threaded opening which-is received on the threaded portion 76.

Disposed on a plunger .62 adjacent the trigger 78 is a washer 80,-.and disposed between the washer 80 and an abutment. 82 inthe gun body is an expansive coil spring .84, the springnormally biasing the plunger 62 towardivalve closing position as hereinafter explained.

The wall of the-gun body 24 is provided with a slot 86 through which extends the trigger 78. The fitting 72-at.the-rear-end of the gun body has an interiorly threaded. bore toaccommodate a threaded member 88 having. a knurled maniplating head 89. The fitting 72 is formed with an. interior circular-recess accommodating a sealing ring 90 or rubber or the like which en-- gages theperiphery of the threaded member 88 and provides a seal to preventescape of air along the member 88.-

The m-ember.88.may be adjusted by manipulating the head portion 89 and forms an abutment or stop means to limit the movement of the plunger 62 in valve opening position. 1 Thus the extent of movement of the plunger may be predetermined by the particular position of adjustment of the threaded member-88; The end of the tubular plunger 62 is fashioned: with a recess or ker-f 92 to receive a suitable tool-in order to rotate the plunger in assembling the plunger into the threaded-opening in the triggermember78. A row of small openings 186 is provided in a wall of the'plunger 62-for a purpose hereinafter explained.

When :the spray gun is :to be-used for applying viscous or slurries of materials contained in the hopper 18, the fitting 12 is employed. The fitting 12 is arranged to be quickly assembled to or disengaged from the member 48 secured to the front end region of the gun body 24. The fitting 12 is fashioned with a hollow generally cylindrical portion 96 and a hollow side branch or lateral attachment section 98 for connection with the outlet end of the hopper 18.

The cylindricalwall region of the fitting 12 defines two circular openings 100 and 102 of the same diameter. The circular opening 100 snugly yet slidably receives a circular tenon portion 104 forming an integral part of the fitting 48.

The tenon portion 104 is provided with three circumferentially spaced bayonet-like slots 106 provided with entrance slots or openings 107, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6. The wall region defining the opening 104 in the fitting 12 is provided with three circumferentially spaced inwardly extending pins 108 which are adapted to enter the entrance slots 104 and bayonet-like slots 106 to removably secure the fitting 12 to the fitting 48 carried by the gun 'body 24.

An'annular sealing ring or gasket 110 of suitable resilient material is contained in a recess formed in the flange portion 49 of the fitting 48'and engages the end wall region of the fitting 12 defining the opening 104. When the fitting 12 is assembled through the medium of the pin and bayonet slot connection with the fitting 48, the sealing ring 110 is compressed to form a fluid tight seal between the fitting 48 and the fitting 12. A setscrew 111 may be drawn up in engagement with the tenon 104 to securely fasten the fitting 12 to the fitting 48.

An orifice plate or nozzle member 112 is arranged to be removably secured to the fitting 12. As particularly shown in FIGURES 3 and 8, the nozzle member 112 is fashioned with a flange portion 114 and a tenon portion 116, the latter being of cylindrical shape and adapted to slidably yet snugly fit into the opening 102' formed by a wall region of the fitting 12.

The peripheral region of the tenon 116 is formed with three bayonet-like slots 118 having entrance openings 119, one of these slots being illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The wall region defining the opening 102 in the fitting 112 is provided with three circumferentially spaced pins 120 for cooperation with the bayonet-like slots 118 for removably securing the orifice plate or member 112 in assembled relation with the fitting 12, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8. An annular sealing ring 122 is disposed between the flange 114 and the wall of the fitting 12 to form a fluid tight seal between the fitting 12 and orifice plate. The orifice plate 112 is fashioned with a bore 124 and a counterbore 126 to receive a member 128 of semi-hard rubber or the like provided with an orifice or outlet 130.

The outlet or opening 130 is cylindrical and joins with a frusto-conically shaped valve seat portion 132 formed on member 128. The ledge 134 at the juncture of the bores 124 and 126 functions to properly position the valve seat member 128 to prevent dislodgernent of the member when the same is engaged by a valve means. The plunger 62 is provided with a removable valve member 136, shown in FIGURE 8. The valve member 136 is formedwith a frusto-conically shaped portion for cooperation with the-frusto-conically shaped valve seat 132 of the orifice member 128.

The valve member 136 is provided with a threaded tenon 140 which is threaded into a threaded region 141 in the distal end of the plunger 62. A portion 142' on the valve member 136 is polygonally shaped, as for example hexagonal, to accommodate a suitable tool to assemble on or disassemble the valve member 136 from the plunger 62. The valve member 136 is fashioned with a forwardly extending cylindrical tenon portion 144 which is of lesser diameter than the orifice or opening 130 formed in the member 128 to facilitate flow of viscous material through the annular space between the wall of the orifice 130 and the tenon 144 when the valve 136 is moved to open position. A passage 146 in the valve member 136 provides for delivery of air forwardly of the orifice plate 112.

The hopper 18 is adapted to be secured to the fitting 12 by bayonet slot and pin connecting means. The exit end of the hopper 18 is fashioned Wtih a fitting 150 bored to snugly yet slidably receive a tenon portion 152 formed on the fitting 12, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 8. The tenon portion 152 is fashioned with four bayonet-like slots 154, particularly shown in FIGURE 9, which are spaced equal distances apart circumferentially of the tenon 152. A flange portion 156 formed integrally with the hopper fitting 150 is provided with four pins 158 spaced circumferentially and adapted to cooperate with the bayonet-like slots 154 to secure the hopper 18 to the fitting 12.

An annularly-shaped sealing ring 160 of rubber is arranged between a flange 98 on the fitting 12 and the flange portion 156 on the hopper fitting 150 to provide a fluid tight seal between the hopper and the fitting 12. The peripheral surface of the flange 156 is polygonally shaped, as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, to accommodate a wrench or suitable tool to facilitate aflixing the hopper fitting to the tenon portion 152 and removing the same therefrom.

As shown in FIGURE the axis of the fitting 150 is angularly arranged with respect to the vertical axis of the hopper 18. Through this angular position of the fitting 150 with respect to the hopper and the four bayonet slots 154 and the pins 158, the hopper may be selectively secured to the fitting 12 in four different positions spaced ninety degrees apart. This enables the use of the gun in various angular positions such as those shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 while maintaining the hopper 18 in a substantially vertical or upright position. By this arrangement the material in the hopper is disposed so as to flow through the hopper fitting 150 into the fitting 12 for delivery through the orifice in the orifice member 128.

If desired, the hopper may be pressurized with compressed air particularly when slurries of viscous materials or materials of mortar-like consistency are to be applied by the spray gun.

As shown in FIGURE 10, the hopper 18 may be provided with a cover 166 having a flange portion 168 which seats against a circular ledge or flange 170 formed on the hopper 18. The cover 166 may be provided with slotted projections 172 to receive securing bolts 174 pivoted to ear portions 176 carried by the hopper 18. Wing nuts 178 are threaded onto the bolts 174 to secure the cover in position. A coupling or fitting 180 on the cover is secured to a hose 182 for connection with a supply of compressed air.

A fitting for introducing compressed air into the upper region of the hopper 18 and above the material may be secured to the side wall of the hopper. As shown in FIG- URE 2, a fitting or coupling 186 is secured in an opening in the side wall of the hopper connected by a hose 188 with the valve fitting 42 to establish pressure above the material 190 in the hopper. The air flow into the hopper in the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1 may be controlled by suitable conventional valve means (not shown). In the form shown in FIGURE 2, the valve arrangement 42 is adapted to control the flow of compressed air to the spray gun 10 and into the hopper 18.

The operation of the spray gun construction above described is as follows: The hopper 18 is substantially filled with material 190 to be applied by the gun. The material may be a slurry of fine aggregate, such as sand, perlite or other similar materials.

The pressurizing of the hopper 18 may or may not be used dependent upon the character and viscosity of the material in the hopper 18. The fitting 36 on the grip portion 26 of the spray gun is connected by a hose 40 with a suitable supply of compressed air.

The threaded member or abutment 88 is then adjusted by manipulating the knurled head 89, shown in FIGURE 8, to a position to limit the movement of the plunger 62 in a right-hand direction as viewed in FIGURE 8. Compressed air flows through the tube 30 into the chamber at the rear of the plunger 62, through the passage 64 in the plunger and through the passage 146 in the valve member 136. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 8, the air flows continuously through the passage 146 whenever the air valve 42, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is opened.

When it is desired to apply or spray material from the spray gun, the operator moves the trigger member 78 in a right-hand direction retracting the plunger 62 in a righthand direction, moving the valve portion 136 away from the valve seat 132 whereby material from the hopper flowing into the interior of the fitting 12 is aspirated through the annular orifice surrounding the tenon 144 of the valve member under the influence of high velocity air moving through and exhausting from the passage 146. The amount of material delivered through the orifice may be determined by adjusting the position of the abutment screw 88 to limit the extent of movement of the plunger 62 and valve member 136.

It should be noted that the regions of engagement of the components, when in assembled relation, are sealed through the use of the several sealing rings or gaskets hereinbefore described. When it is desired to change the angle of application of material from the spray gun relative to the hopper 18, the hopper may be quickly removed from the fitting 12 by applying a suitable tool to the polygonal surface 156 to disengage the bayonet slot-pin locking arrangement between the fitting 12 and the hopper 18 and shifting the position of the hopper as desired dependent upon the angle at which the material is to be delivered from the nozzle 130 of the spray gun.

The spray gun construction is of a character to facilitate its use with an automatic pressure actuated pump of conventional construction for pumping material to the spray gun. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 8a, the rear end region of the plunger 62 is provided with a peripheral row of small openings 186 and an interiorly threaded end portion 188. As shown in FIGURE 80, a screw plug is threaded into the threaded portion 188 of the plunger 62.

When the gun is used with the plug 190 in the position in the end of the plunger 62, as shown in FIGURE 8a, and the plunger is in a position seating the valve 136 in the frusto-conically shaped seat 132, the openings 186 are closed by the ring 68 shown in FIGURE 8 whereby air flow is interrupted through the lengthwise passage 64 in the plunger 62.

When the trigger 78 moves the plunger to open the valve 136, the openings 186 are moved rearwardly of the ring 168 to facilitate air flow from the chamber 67 through the openings 186 into the passage 64 of the plunger. With this arrangement the air flow through passage 64 and orifice 146 occurs only when the plunger is retracted by the trigger 78 to open the ports or openings 186 to admit air into the passage 64.

FIGURES 7 and 11 illustrate a modified form of fitting usable in lieu of the fitting 12 where the supply of material may be a pressurized tank containing material or a material delivering pump. The assembly illustrated in FIGURE 11 includes a fitting 194 having a hollow cylindrical portion 196 and a lateral stem or branch portion 198. The stem 198 is tubular providing a passage 200 in communication with a chamber 202 defined by the cylindrical portion 196. The stem 198 has a nipple portion 204 to receive the end of a hose (not shown) connected to a pressurized tank containing material to be sprayed from the gun or with a material delivering pump.

The fitting 194 is constructed to be removably secured to the fitting 48 of the spray gun construction and for receiving the nozzle construction 112 through the use of the pin and bayonet slot interlocking connections of the character hereinbefore described in connection with the construction shown in FIGURE 8.

In the assembly of the fitting 194 and spray gun construction illustrated in FIGURE 11, the wall region of the'cylindrical configuration 196 adjacent the fitting 48 is provided with three circumferentially spaced pins 108' which are adapted to interlock with the bayonet-like slots 106, shown in FIGURES 3 and 6.

Thus when the fitting 194 is assembled with the fitting 48 as shown in FIGURE 11, the stem portion 198 extends downwardly vertically inthe'same direction as the trigger 78 The wall region of the cylindrical portion 196 adjacent the nozzle construction 112 in the assembly shown in FIGURE 11, is provided with a second set of pins 206, shown in FIGURES 7 and 11. 'The pins 206' are adapted to enter the bayonet-like slots 118 in the orifice plate 112, shown in FIGURE 3 In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 11 the valve member "136 secured to the forward end of the plunger 62 cooperates with the surface 1320f valve seat 128 to control thedelivery of material fromthe chamber 202 through the annular orifice 130 surrounding the portion 1440f the valve member 136, the plunger 62'being controlled by the trigger 78.

Attention is directed to FIGURE 7 wherein it will be seen that the pins 206, While spaced one hundred and twenty degrees apart circumferentially of the cylinder 196, are spaced circumferentially a distance of sixty degrees from the pins 108'.

Through this particular arrangement of spacing of the pins' 108' and 20 6, the fitting 194 may be reversed with respect to the fitting 48 whereby the'pins 206 engage in the bayonet-like slots 106 of the fitting48 and the pins 108 enga'ge'in the bayonet-like slots 118 in the nozzle'construction 112.

When the fitting is assembled withthe gun and the nozzle construction 112 in this fashion, the stern 198'is positioned to project upwardly from the gun or in a position one hundred and'eighty degrees removed from the position shown in' FIGURE 11. In the upwardly projectingposition of the nipple or stem 198, a small spotting hopper (not shown) of' conventional construction may be connected with the stem 198 to facilitate spray application-of decorative finish in spots or in random from the spraygun.

The spotting hoppermay'contain granular or comminuted materials such as'mica, marble dust, metallic flakes, glass flake,*or other types of decorative materials conventionally employed'for'decorative purposes. With the 'stem' 198 in upwardly projecting position and used with a small spotting hopper, the hopper is unpressurized whereby the granular or comminuted materials move by gravity into-the chamber 202 for delivery from the spray gun by aspiration of the air stream when the valve 136 is moved to open position.

FIGURES 12 through 17 illustratethe spray gun and i fittingconstruction for utilization of thespray gun in spraying or delivering liquidus or low' viscosity materials such as paints, resinous coatings or the like. In this form of the invention, the spray gun is equipped with a fitting construction and assembly 210, the assembly 210 being readily afiixe d to and removed from the fitting 48 through a pin 'and' bayone't'slotdike arrangement hereinbefor'e described. In the form of construction employed for spraying liquidus materials, a needle valve arrangement is used in lieu of the valve member 136 shown in FIGURE 8.

The assembly 210 includes a fitting or body 212 having a sleeve portion 214 arranged to slidably fit over the tenon portion 104'of'the fitting 48.- As shown in FIG- URE 12 the sleeve portion 214" is provided with three circumferentially arranged, equally spaced pins 216 which are adapted to be received in the bayonet-like slots 106 of the fitting 48 for removably securing the body 12 to the fitting 48. The sleeve portion 214 is provided with a threaded opening to accommodate a setscrew 218 which may be drawn into engagement with the tenon 104 to securely fasten the body 212 to the fitting 48.

The body 212 is fashioned with a downwardly projecting stem or nipple portion 220 which is tubular providing a passage 222.

The nipple portion 220 is provided with a threaded section 224 adapted to receive a coupling (not shown) for securing a hose to the stem 220, the hose being connected with a receptacle containing a supply of liquidus material such as paint or the like to be sprayed from the spray gun. The passage 222 is in communication with a chamber 226 formed in the body 212.

In this form of the invention, the valve member 136, shown in FIGURE 8, is replaced by a needle valve 228 having a tapered valve portion 230 at its forward end, as shown in FIGURES 12 and 13. The needle valve member 228 is integrally formed with a polygonally shaped portion 232 and a threaded portion 234, the latter being threaded into the threaded region 146 in the forward end of the plunger 62. The polygonal portion 232 facilitates the use of a suitable tool to assemble and disassemble the needle valve 228 with the plunger 62. The fitting or body 212 is fashioned with a chamber 236 adjacent the end of the plunger 62 and the enlarged portion 232 of the needle valve construction.

The rear region of the chamber 236 is sealed by the sealing'ring 110 contained in a recess in the flange portion of the fitting 48. Formed in the enlarged portion 232 and threaded portion 234 of the needle valve construction is a central passage 238 which is in communication with an angularly arranged passage 240 provided in the enlarged portion 232. Through this arrangement, air from the passageway 64 of the tubular plunger 62 is admitted into the chamber 236 through the communicating passageways 238 and 240.

An inwardly projecting wall portion 242 separates the chamber 226 from the chamber 236. The wall portion 242 is formed with a threaded bore extending partially therethrough to receive a threaded bushing 244 through which extends the needle 228 of the valve construction. A sealing gasket 246' in the form of an O-r'ing in crosssection is nest-ed in the end of the bore formed in the wall 242, the bushing 244 being arranged to be drawn into engagement with the sealing gasket or ring 246 to engage the ring 246 with the peripheral surface of the needle 228 to prevent air seepage from chamber 236 along the needle 228.

The forward region of the body 212 is interiorly form-ed with a threaded portion 248 which receives a threaded tenon portion 250 of a nozzle member or fitting 252. The fitting 252 -is fashioned with an interior bore 254 of larger diameter than the needle 228 to admit air along the needle in the passage 254. The forward extremity of the fitting 252 is fashioned with a central passage 256 providing an orifice for the passage and discharge of air from the chamber 226 and passage 254 when the needle valve portion 230 is moved in a right-hand direction as viewed in FIGURES 12 and 13 to open the orifice 256.

It should be noted that the interior wall 258 defining the orifice or passage 256is of a taper substantially the same as the taper on the needle valve portion 230 to effect a seating of the needle valve 230 when in closed position.

The fitting 252 is provided with a cylindrical section 260 and a polygonally shaped portion 262, the latter being adapted to accommodate a wrench or other suitable tool for assembling or disassembling the fitting 252 with the fitting or body 212.

The body or fitting 212 is formed at its end region with a threaded portion 264 to accommodate a threaded clamping ring 266, the clamping ring 266 being formed with an inwardly extending flange 268 as shown in FIG- URES 12 and 13.

Arranged to be fitted onto the face of the boss portion of the fitting 212'is a frontal plate or orifice member 27 0 fashioned with a flange portion 272 which, in assembly, is engaged by the flange 268 on the threaded clamping ring 266 for securing the frontal plate or orifice member 270 in fixed relation with the body 212. The orifice member 270 is formed with an interior bore providing a chamber 274 which is in communication with the air chamber 236 by connecting passages 276 and 278 formed in the body 212, the passage 278 being of comparatively small cross-sectional area to meter or restrict the fiow of air into the chamber 274. The restricted passage 278 opens into a circular recess or manifold 280 formed in the frontal face region of the body 212 to elfect distribution of air in the chamber 274 in the orifice member 270.

The cylindrical section or portion 260 of member 252 snugly yet slidably fits into a bore formed in a central partition region 282 of the member 270.

Formed in the member 270 adjacent the section 282 is a circular recess 284 providing a circular manifold which is in communication with the chamber 274 through a circular row of comparatively small passages 286 extending through the central partition section 282 of the member 270.

The frontal region of fitting 252 is provided with a cone-shaped surface 288 and the interior of the orifice member 270 is formed with a cone-shaped surface 290, the surfaces 288 and 290 defining a frusto-conically shaped passage 292. The frontal portion of the member 270 is formed with a cylindrical surface 294 which, as shown in FIGURE 13, is spaced from the nozzle portion 259 of the fitting 252 to form an annular orifice or nozzle 296.

Air from the chamber 236 flows through the interconnecting passages 276 and 278, the circular manifold recess 280, chamber 274 thence through passages 286 and the conically-shaped passage 292, and through the annular discharge orifice 296 to the atmosphere. The passage 222 in the fitting 212 is connected by a hose means (not shown) with a pressurized supply of coating material such as paint which is to be sprayed from the spray gun. The paint or other liquidus coating material is delivered under pressure through the passage 222 through chambers 226 and 254 for discharge through the central circular outlet or orifice 256 when the needle valve portion 230 is retracted in a direction away from the orifice 256 to open the orifice.

Means is provided for delivering air in a manner from the member 270 to modify the cone-shaped pattern of discharge of the material from the gun to provide a fanshaped pattern. The body 212 is formed with an angularly arranged boss portion 300 having an interiorly threaded bore 302 which accommodates a threaded valve member 304 having a valve portion 306 and a knurled head 308 for facilitating manual adjustment of the valve member 306. A sealing ring 310 is disposed in the end of the bore 302 and a threaded bushing 312 is threaded into the bore 302 to compress the sealing ring 310 into sealing engagement with the valve portion 306.

The valve portion 306 is slidably yet snugly fitted in a passage 314, the passage 314 being in communication with the passage 276 by a channel or passage 316. The rear face region of the orifice member 270 is formed with a circumferential recess 320 which is in communication with the passage 314 by a duct or passage 322. The frontal face of the orifice member 270 is provided with two diametrically disposed horns or projections 324, each provided with an angularly arranged outlet or orifice 326. Each of the orifices or outlets 326 is in communication with the circular manifold 320 by a passage 328.

In the operation and use of the gun an fitting construction illustrated in FIGURES 12 through 17, the stem 220 is connected by means of a hose (not shown) with a pressurized receptacle or tank containing paint or other liquidus coating material to be delivered from the spray gun.

Compressed air is supplied through the tube 28 in the handle 26 of the gun, the air flowing through the length- Wise passage 64 in the plunger 62 through the interconnecting passages 238 and 240 into the chamber 236.

'From the chamber 236 air is delivered in two paths as follows: Air flows from chamber 236 through the passageways 276, 278, the circular manifold 280, chamber 274, passages 286 through the cone-shaped chamber 292 thence through the annular nozzle or orifice 296. When the needle valve 230 is retracted through manipulation of the trigger 78 the coating material such as paint being under pressure flows through the central circular orifice 256 and is atomized or broken up into fine particles by the velocity of the air discharged through the annular orifice 296 which surrounds the central circular orifice 256.

When the valve member 304 is threaded a sufiicient distance into the bore 302 whereby the valve portion 306 blocks or interrupts air flow through passage 316, the pattern of coating material under the influence of the air discharged through the orifice 296 will be substantially cone-shape, being the conventional pattern of delivery from a circular or annular orifice. When the operator desires to modify the spray pattern of the delivered material this may be accomplished by manipulating the valve member 304 to partially or wholly uncover the port 316 by moving the valve 306 in an upward right-hand direction as viewed in FIGURE 13.

Air under pressure from chamber 236 additionally flows through the port or passage 316, passages 314 and 322 into the circular manifold 320 thence through the passages 328 and is discharged from the orifices or outlet ducts 326. As particularly shown in FIGURE 13, the direction of the outlet ducts 326 is angular with respect to the axis of delivery of the air and coating material from the gun and the jets of air delivered from the orifices .326 modify or flatten the spray pattern of material delivered from the gun. The operator may modify the configuration of the spray pattern by manually regulating the relative position of the valve 306 by manipulating the valve body 304 to control air flow from the port 316 into the passage 314.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that through the use of the interchangeable fittings 12, 196 and the fitting assembly 210, the latte-r being shown in FIGURES 12 through 17, the spray gun construction is quickly and readily adaptable for use in spraying viscous or heavy materials in slurry form or the construction employed for delivering liquidus coating materials through the use of the fitting assembly and components 210. The interlocking arrangements provided by the pin and bayonet slot-type connections enable an operator to quickly interchange fittings to adapt the gun to many and various uses as hereinbefore described.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun body, a hand grip member, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the body, trigger means for moving the plunger, a passage in the grip member, a tube in said passage having threaded connection in a threaded opening in said body, a fitting threaded on said tube engaging the hand grip member for securing the hand grip member to the body, said tube being in communication with the bore in the body and adapted to be connected with a supply of compressed air, a hollow fitting providing a material receiving cham ber, means for removably securing the fitting to the front end of the gun body, a nozzle plate removably secured to the fitting and provided with a valve seat, a tubular valve member removably secured to the tubular plunger arranged for cooperation with the valve seat, said hollow 1 l fitting arranged to be connected with a supply of material for delivery into the chamber, said valve member and nozzle plate being arranged to effect delivery of a stream of compressed air from the tubular plunger and material from the chamber in the fitting when said valve member is moved to open position.

,2. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun including a body provided with a cylindrical portion, a grip portion for the body, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the cylindrical portion, a passage in the grip portion, a tube in said passage having threaded connection in a threaded opening in said body, a fitting threaded on said tube engaging the grip portion for securing thegrip portion to the body, said tube being in communication with the bore in the body and adapted to be connected with a supply of compressed air, means for effecting slidable movement of the plunger, plunger guide means provided on the gun body, a hollow fitting providing a chamber, means for removably connecting the fitting with the gun, a nozzle plate, means for removably securing the nozzle plate to said yfitting, said fitting having a passage a wall thereof adapted to be connected with a supply of material, a valve member movable with the tubular' plunger, said valve member having a passage therein to accommodate flow of air from said plunger, a valve seat carried by said nozzle plate'providin-g a material delivery opening, said valve memberhaving a valve portion arranged for cooperation with the valveseat for controlling delivery of material from the chamber into a stream of air projected forwardly of the nozzle plate.

3. Apparatus for spraying materials including, 7 in combination, a spray gun including a body provided with a cylindrical portion, a grip portion for the body, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the cylindrical portion, a passage in the grip portion, a tube in said passage having threaded connection in a threaded opening in the body, a fitting threaded on said tube engaging the grip portion for securing the grip portion to the body, said tube being in communication'with the bore in the body and adapted to be connected with a supply of compressed air, trigger means for effecting slidable movement'of the plunger, a plunger guide means associated with the gun body, a hollow member providing a chamber, a plurality of pins carried by one of said mcmberspa plurality of slots in the other of saidmembers arranged to receive said pins for removably securing said hollow member to said guide means, a nozzle plate, means for removably securing the nozzle plate to said fitting, said hollow member having a passage in a wall thereof adapted to be connected with a supply of material, a valve member removably connected with the tubular plunger and movable therewith, said valve member having a passage therein to accommodate flow of air from said plunger, a valve seat associated with said nozzle plate, means providing a material delivery outlet for the orifice plate, said valve member having a valve portion arranged for cooperation with a valve seat associated with the nozzle plate for controlling delivery of material from the chamber into a stream of air projected forwardly of the nozzle plate.

4. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun including a body provided with a cylindrical portion, a hand grip for the body, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the cylindrical portion, a passage in the hand grip, a tube in said passage having threaded connection in a threaded opening in said body, a fitting threaded on said tube engaging the hand' grip for securing the hand grip to the body, said tube being in communication with the bore in the body and adapted to be connected with a supply of compressed air, trigger means for effecting slidable movement of the plunger, a plunger guide member secured to the front end of the gun body, a hollow member providing a chamber, pin and slot meansfor removably securing said hollow member to said guide member, a nozzle plate, a second pin 12 r and slot means for removably securing the nozzle plate to said hollow member, said hollow member having a lateral branch portion, passage means in the branch portion adapted to be connected with a supply of material, a valve member removably connected with the tubular plunger and movable therewith, said valve member having a passage therein to accommodate flow of air from said plunger, a valve seat associated with said nozzle plate, means providing a material delivery outlet for the orifice plate, said valve member having a valve portion arranged for cooperation with a valve seat associated with the nozzle plate for controlling delivery of material from the chamber into a stream of air projected forwardly of the nozzle plate.

5. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun having an elongated body, a hand grip portion for the body, a tubular plunger slidable in the bore in the cylindrical portion, a passage in the grip portion, a tube in said passage having threaded, connection in a threaded opening in said body, a fitting threaded on said tube engaging the hand grip portion for securing the hand grip portion to the body, said tube being in communication with the bore in the body and adapted to be connected with a supply of compressed air, triggerm'eans for effecting slidable movement of the plunger, "a hollow member providing a chamber, pin and slot means for removably securing the hollow member in assembled relation with the gun body, said hollow member having a lateral branch portion provided with a passage, a hopper having an outlet fitting adapted to mate with the lateral branch portion of the hollow member, means for removably securing the hopper outlet fitting to said branch portion, said hopper adapted to contain a supply of material for delivery into the chamber of the hollow member, an orifice member removably secured to said hollow member, a valve means connected with said plunger for controlling delivery of material from the hopper through an opening in the orifice member, said valve member and orifice member being arranged whereby air under pressure from the interior of the tubular plunger is projected forwardly of the orifice plate whereby the material is entrained thereby.

6. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun including a body having a cylindrical portion, a grip portion for the body, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the cylindrical portion, passage means in the grip portion arranged to be connected with a supply of compressed air, trigger means for effecting slidable movement of the plunger, a plunger guide member secured to the front end of the gun body, a hollow member providing a chamber, pin and slot means for removably securing the guide member and hollow member together, said hollow member having a side branch portion provided with a passage, said side branch arranged to be connected with a receptacle containing a supply of material for use with the spray gun, an orifice plate, a member of nonmetallic material mounted by said plate, said nonmetallic member having an orifice and a valve seat formed therein, a valve member carried by the tubular plunger having a cylindrical tenon por tionand a valve'portion arranged to engage said valve seat, an air passage in sai-d valve member in communication with the interior of the tubular plunger, said cylindrical portion being of lesser diameter than the orifice in the nonmetallic member providing an annular outlet through which material is delivered from the chamber in the hollow member when the valve member is in open position. I

7. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun including a body having a cylindrical portion, a grip portion for the body, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the cylindrical portion, passage means in the grip portion arranged to be connected with a supply of compressed air, trigger means for effecting slidable movement of the plunger, a plunger guide member secured to the front end of the gun body, a hollow member providing a chamber, pin and slot means for removably securing the guide member and hollow member together, said hollow member having a side branch portion provided with a passage, a hopper adapted to contain a supply of material having an outlet portion mating with the side branch portion, means for removably securing the hopper to the fitting, an orifice plate arranged to be removably connected with the fitting, a member of nonmetallic material mounted by said plate, said nonmetallic member having an orifice and a valve seat formed therein, a valve member carried by the tubular plunger having a cylindrical tenon portion and a valve portion arranged to engage said valve seat, an air passage in said valve member in communication with the interior of the tubular plunger, said cylindrical portion being of lesser diameter than the orifice in the nonmetallic member providing an annular outlet through which material is delivered from the chamber in the hollow member when the valve member is in open position.

8. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun including a grip portion and a body having a cylindrical portion, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the cylindrical portion, passage means in the grip portion arranged to be connected with a supply of compressed air, trigger means for effecting slidable movement of the plunger, a plunger guide mom: ber secured to the front end of the gun body, a hollow member providing a chamber, pin and slot means for removably securing the plunger guide member and hollow member together, said hollow member having a lateral branch portion provided with a passage, said lateral branch portion adapted to be connected with a supply of material for use with the spray gun, said hollow member having a partition formed therein dividing the chamber into a material receiving compartment and an air receiving compartment, an orifice member, means removably securing the orifice member to the hollow member, a central orifice in said orifice member, a bushing carried by the hollow member providing a valve seat, a valve member carried by the tubular plunger having a needle valve portion cooperating with the valve seat for controlling flow of material from the material receiving compartment through the central orifice, said bushing forming with the central orifice an annular outlet means through which air is delivered, and passage means connecting said outlet means with the air compartment in said hollow member for supplying air under pressure to said outlet means.

9. Apparatus for spraying materials including, in combination, a spray gun including a grip portion and a cylindrical body portion, a tubular plunger slidable in a bore in the cylindrical portion, passage means in the grip portion arranged to be connected with a supply of compressed air, trigger means for effecting slidable movement of the plunger, a plunger guide member secured to the front end of the gun body, a hollow member providing a chamber, pin and slot means for removably securing the plunger guide member and hollow member together, said hollow member having a lateral branch portion provided with a passage, said lateral branch portion adapted to be connected with a receptacle containing a supply of material for use with the spray gun, said hollow member having a partition formed therein dividing the chamber into a material receiving compartment and an air receiving compartment, an orifice member, means removably securing the orifice member to the hollow member, a central orifice in said orifice member, a bushing in said hollow member providing a valve seat, a valve member carried by the tubular plunger having a needle valve portion cooperating with the valve seat for controlling flow of material from the material receiving compartment, said bushing forming with the central orifice an annular outlet through which air is delivered, passage means connecting the annular outlet with the air compartment in said hollow member for supplying air under pressure to said annular outlet, a pair of projections provided on the orifice plate, air discharge passages in said projections, an annular manifold formed in said orifice member, said air discharge passages being in communication with said manifold, 21 hollow boss portion on said hollow member, manually adjustable valve means in a bore in said boss, an air passage between the air compartment and the bore in the boss portion, and passage means establishing communication between said manifold and the bore in the boss portion for conveyance of air under pressure to the air discharge passages in said projections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,597,033 8/1926 Gibbons 239-416 1,988,017 1/1935 Norwick 239--407 2,071,218 2/1937 Reid 239-416 2,259,215 10/1941 Scheurer 239-416 2,355,080 8/1944 Junkins 2398 2,419,365 4/1947 Nagel 239-8 2,497,625 2/1950 Norwick 239379 2,801,880 8/1957 Rienecker 239379 2,887,274 5/1959 SWenson 239-379 2,934,246 4/1960 Briggs 239-289 2,964,302 12/1960 Tombu 239345 2,992,194 7/1961 Paulsen.

3,006,560 10/1961 Rosenkranz 239583 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,049,806 10/1953 France.

ROBERT E. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

0 EVERETT W. KIRBY, M. HENSON WOOD, JR., 

1. APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING MATERIALS INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A SPRAY GUN BODY, A HAND GRIP MEMBER, A TUBULAR PLUNGER SLIDABLE IN A BORE IN THE BODY, TRIGGER MEANS FOR MOVING THE PLUNGER, A PASSAGE IN THE GRIP MEMBER, A TUBE IN SAID PASSAGE HAVING THREADED CONNECTION IN A THREADED OPENING IN SAID BODY, A FITTING THREADED ON SAID TUBE ENGAGING THE HAND GRIP MEMBER FOR SECURING THE HAND GRIP MEMBER TO THE BODY, SAID TUBE BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE BORE IN THE BODY AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED WITH A SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED AIR, A HOLLOW FITTING PROVIDING A MATERIAL RECEIVING CHAMBER, MEANS FOR REMOVABLY SECURING THE FITTING TO THE FRONT END OF THE GUN BODY, A NOZZLE PLATE REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE FITTING AND PROVIDED WITH A VALVE SEAT, A TUBULAR VALVE MEMBER REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE TUBULAR PLUNGER ARRANGED FOR COOPERATION WITH THE VALVE SEAT, SAID HOLLOW FITTING ARRANGED TO BE CONNECTED WITH A SUPPLY OF MATERIAL FOR DELIVERY INTO THE CHAMBER, SAID VALVE MEMBER AND NOZZLE PLATE BEING ARRANGED TO EFFECT DELIVERY OF A STREAM OF COMPRESSED AIR FROM THE TUBULAR PLUNGER AND MATERIAL FROM THE CHAMBER IN THE FITTING WHEN SAID VALVE MEMBER IS MOVED TO OPEN POSITION. 